The Best Women’s Hunting Pants of 2024

No big surprises on this one. KUIU is going to win top honors for Best Women’s Hunting Pants… again! The brand just did it so well.

The KUIU Women’s Attack Pant ($149) is about as solid as a hunting pant for women gets. They have a heavy-duty construction without feeling claustrophobic. The Attack pant stretches and moves with you in a way few others can match. These are not shrunken-down versions of the men’s pants, either. They’ve been retailored with a distinctly women’s cut — and for me, they fit and get the job done.

Something we don’t often see in women’s pants is hip vents — and these have them. If you’ve never had the pleasure of opening up a vent and feeling a little air on your thigh when the temps get warm, you are missing out.

The first test in these pants was spent on horseback, and after a day of riding through mountains and streams, we didn’t think about them once. That’s the hallmark of a good piece of gear. It did its job to keep us comfortable and protected in such a way that meant no time was wasted on resituating.

Since then, these have been our go-to hunting pants for everything from early-season scouting all the way through late-season predator hunts (over wool baselayers). These are the pants we grab on our personal hunts when we aren’t required to test anything. They just do everything and they do it well.

Without breaking the bank, the Magellan Outdoors Stonewall Cargo Pant ($30) is a great all-around hunting pant for women in mild environments. For a casual hunter that might not be hunting often or in extreme weather, these will do job.

The Stonewall Cargo Pants are cotton with a bit of spandex, making them super comfortable. They have a more casual fit than most women’s hunting pants and definitely have a cut that is more fashion-forward. To be honest, these could absolutely just be a pair of casual pants you wear in your day-to-day life, if camo is your color of choice.

The camo pattern, ample pockets, and friendly price make these a pretty great choice for those looking to get into camo without taking out a loan.

Keep in mind that cotton loves water. If you’re headed into wet territory, you’re better off staying home or picking up a pair of water-resistant pants.

If you’re headed to a dry tree stand, or into the field with no precipitation in the forecast, these will absolutely do the job. We’ve worn the Stonewalls bird hunting, early season scouting, and hanging tree stands with no notes.

There’s a new kid in town, and it’s the Lined 308 ($180). First Lite seems to be putting some serious time and effort into the women’s offerings. There was some initial skepticism about these heavy-weight, lined pants. They almost feel too cozy to have the performance needed in the field. With a few tests, we quickly found out the Lined 308 can hold its own while providing serious comfort and warmth.

These fall in the runner-up spot because of their shorter season use. This is not the pant you want to be wearing crawling through the sagebrush in August. You would die. That being said, they do offer an unlined version that might be a competitor for the top spot. Until we put them through some serious paces, though, the nod will go to the runner-up lined version.

This is that cozy pant that still moves like a technical pant, but is fleece lined for those late-season, blustery days when you just can’t seem to stay warm. It’s what we all wish we were wearing when those lightweight pants just aren’t enough.

It is important to note, these are not the pants you put on if you’re expecting rainy/wet conditions. That softshell just isn’t going to cut it. If you live in a notoriously wet area, these might not be for you. For those dry cold environments, the lined 308 is top-notch.

Without putting them through the harshest conditions yet, we’re not sure about their longevity, but we have high hopes. So far, they’ve been a joy on those cold, early mountain mornings.

The Sitka Timberline Pant ($250) has stood out as the go-to hunting pant for a lot of us. It is a workhorse. The reinforced, waterproof seat and knees are phenomenal when you’re moving through the nasty stuff.

You feel like you can sit and kneel anywhere without considering being uncomfortable and damp later. In the early season, those perch consideration seconds really can matter. The removable knee pads are a lifesaver for people who hunt in cactus country or those who’ve had the joy of experiencing a sharp piece of shale or a branch jab into a knee while kneeling.

They have a stretch similar to the KUIU Attack Pant and move with you well. However, I’ve found after a few years of heavy use — the material tends to stretch out a bit, with the exception of the waistband. This is more apparent to those of us whose waist has expanded with the rest of the pant. It’s a seriously minor thing, but it’s something I’ve noticed.

The only real downside of these pants is the contrasting color of the seat and knees. It’s just odd. I know it functions to break up your form, and the material is likely hard to pattern, but it would be neat not to have my knees and butt highlighted in the hills. Green, black, or brown from the timberline pattern would have made more sense.

Overall, these pants are hardcore and will hold up against pretty much any condition.

Read Review: The Sitka Timberline Pants

The Alpine Fit Bushwacking Leggings ($180) are not cheap, but they are awesome. This is one of those products we were certainly skeptical about and in the end, we’ve found them to be one of our staples.

The Bushwacking leggings are just as comfortable as your favorite pair of yoga pants but with front paneling material that allows you to, well, bushwhack. They walk the fine line between workout and workwear. These have been some of our favorite pants for bird hunting, scouting, hiking, and even into rifle deer season.

They are thin enough to be worn under a loose-fitting pair of traditional hunting pants, too. Instead of stopping down if it gets to warm and wandering about in your base layers (like we tend to do) you can still have a capable pair of leggins underneath to continue your trek when the temps start to rise.

One of the biggest perks is Alpine Fit’s sizing. The brand offers two different fits, for either more slim or more curvy builds.

Not only are they great in the field, but they’re just great everyday pants, meaning that cost doesn’t sting quite as much. You’ll get maximum use out of them, even if you don’t hunt enough to justify the price.

The Ascent Pant ($199) is winning our hearts. Not only has this been our favorite early-season pant of all time, but it’s quickly becoming our favorite ‘everyday wear’ pant. If you saw a GearJunkie presence on media trips or at trade shows this year, you might recognize the Ascent Pant. The solid color option means these are the pants we’ve been wearing to glass for elk and antelope AND the pants we wear to meetings and to the grocery store.

These pants are lighter than light and breathe so well in hot, miserable conditions. They have a stretchy quality to them that gives them all the moves and none of the restrictions. AND THE BEST PART? The waistband is not a traditional hunting pant band. There are no buttons, or tight spots that pinch. They have a stretchy yoga pant style band attached to a hunting pant. It’s what dreams are made of, ladies.

If you have concerns about keeping them up, they feature a built-in belt that can cinch them if need be. You likely won’t need it, though.

For all the perks of one of our new favorite pairs of pants, there is one unfortunate flaw. When wearing the Ascent Pant, you might have to tread a whole lot lighter than you’re used to. They are not silent in the woods. Because of the ultra-lightweight build, they do have a bit of swish-swish to them. It’s not a deal-breaker, though. The perks of these things really outweigh the bit of extra sound.

First Lite decided to hop on in and replace our former favorite bibs with a new favorite. The Sanctuary Bibs from the brand are no longer available (womp-womp), but the replacement in the lineup is nothing to scoff at. We were initially bummed to hear that our favorite “sleeping bag you could walk in” was being discontinued, but the Core Bibs ($450) are a pretty dang stellar step up.

That price tag certainly stings, but when you start looking at late-season, whitetail bibs, it’s right on par with what you can expect. So far, we’ve tested the Core Bib while sitting in a tree stand and even tried to sleep outside in them with temps dropping into the 30s.

They don’t feel nearly as bulky as the Sanctuary Bib, which is both a benefit and a detriment. We noticed far more dexterity and comfort when moving about in the Core Bib. They aren’t nearly as restrictive. That being said, we’re sure they might not be as warm in stagnant situations when the temps drop, though that’s still to be seen.

Another huge upgrade from our former winner in this category is sound. The Core Bibs are quiet. It isn’t that the Sanctuary Bibs were loud, but they weren’t silent. When it comes to swish swish, the Core Bibs have virtually none. This is a huge deal in the whitetail wood. They won’t be as quiet material-on-material as the Fanatic System, but when it comes to sitting against tree bark and trekking through bramble and briar without grabbing literally everything (which the Fanatic System does), I think these bibs will be tough to beat.

The cut of the bibs is also cleverly tailored to specifically fit women, with a broader, higher chest for coverage and comfort.

Waterfowl hunting requires some seriously specific gear. Being cold sucks. Being cold and wet is the worst. The LaCrosse Estuary Hunting Waders ($300) solve the issue by keeping you both dry and warm.

Neoprene is pretty undefeated when it comes to providing both insulation and a water barrier. The Estuary Waders are constructed of neoprene, spandex, Lycra, and Thinsulate. This means not only are you warm and protected, but you also have stretch and mobility.

Obviously, you’re going to want to wear a base layer for additional warmth (I highly recommend wool), but the wader itself does a great job of keeping you insulated.

The one complaint is the overall length. If you’re short to average height, you should have no problem. If you’re on the taller side, these waders might not be the choice for you.

This particular wader is tailored with a slimmer fit that reduces bulk while still being roomy enough to move. The fleece-lined hand warmer and plentiful pockets give you ample space for storage and plenty of room to stash hand warmers.

The KUIU Pro Brush Pants ($199) have been a favorite for men, and now, with a specific women’s version, we’ve been just as giddy to be in the field with them.

Whether out scouting elk or trailing behind a working dog, they don’t weigh you down and keep your legs from being eaten up by the endless brush you’re bound to encounter.

We’ve now tested these pants in several different locations and environments, chasing everything from grouse to turkeys and elk to bears. They are extremely lightweight pants, so if you’re trekking around in the cool mornings or in the shoulder seasons, a base layer is a good idea. If you end up getting too toasty, you can always pop open the double-thigh vents.

They have some serious thorn resistance and should keep you pretty darn dry. All in all, they’re solid pants for rough terrain and hot weather conditions.

The original Sofia Adventure Pants have been a crowd favorite for women in the hunt space. The Sofia 2 ($199) builds on the initial pant with some improvements that definitely land it a comfortable spot on our list. It has a comfortable spot because these are some seriously comfortable pants.

With attention to a women’s-specific build, the Sofia 2 pants have a higher rise than your typical hunting pants, are super stretchy, and come in sizes from a Regular XXS to a Curvy XXL. The 2.0 ideation also has back pockets, which is a big plus for a lot of women. The bottom hem has a snap system, allowing you to tailor the length of the leg, so from the shortest shooters to the tallest hunters, these pants should do the job.

These pants were great for bird hunting in the early spring, though they did gather a whole heap of cockleburrs and other grabby flora. They’re incredibly warm while still breathing well, meaning you’d be cozy in them for the late season but still comfortable in the early-mid-season.

They are DWR-treated for water resistance, so some light precipitation shouldn’t bog you down. Knee pad compatibility and a dedicated knife pocket really make the Sofia 2 a great option for most hunting scenarios from a great brand dedicating time and effort to making sure women have the best gear available.